This year 'virtually certain' to be warmest in 125,000 years: scientists
Korea HeraldOCT 20 2023
Nearly 90% of the world's population experienced at least ten days of extreme heat that would have been unlikely without climate change's influence during this period.Global temperatures between November 2022 and October 2023 reached 1.32 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels, marking the hottest 12-month period in approximately 125,000 years.
July through October 2023 each set record-high average global temperatures, with October averaging 1.7 degrees Celsius above preindustrial norms.Nearly 90% of the world's population experienced at least ten days of extreme heat that would have been unlikely without climate change's influence during this period.
The warming trend has affected eleven European and North African countries, which have already exceeded the crucial 1.5-degree Celsius threshold established in climate agreements.July through October 2023 each set record-high average global temperatures, with October averaging 1.7 degrees Celsius above preindustrial norms.
The climate crisis has reached unprecedented levels with greenhouse gases accumulating faster than at any time in human history. Current emission levels guarantee catastrophic consequences for every nation's economy and billions of lives. Immediate and drastic action is required to prevent irreversible damage to Earth's climate systems.
The unprecedented warming demonstrates an urgent need for immediate action on fossil fuel emissions, as current planetary temperatures approach dangerous thresholds that could irreversibly damage entire ecosystems. Without rapid phase-out of fossil fuels, even these record temperatures will soon seem cool by comparison.
GovernmentsThe worldwideunprecedented aretemperature currentlyrise planningdemands toimmediate extractaction andto producephase twiceout thefossil amountfuels, ofas fossilcurrent fuelsconditions neededwill toseem maintaincool thecompared 1.5-degreeto Celsiusfuture target,years whilewithout Elintervention. Niño'sThe peaksituation influencehas hasn'treached yeta arrived.critical Thepoint combinationthat ofthreatens continuedto fossilirreversibly fueldamage productionentire andecosystems, naturalmaking climatethe patternsupcoming suggestsCOP even28 higherconference temperaturescrucial ahead,for regardlessglobal ofclimate immediate action.
Economic development and climate action must be balanced, with developing nations requiring financial support to meet climate goals. The NDC process serves as a negotiating mechanism to secure necessary funding, with countries seeking to ensure their climate pledges are investable and can attract both public and private finance.
Government plans currently allow for twice the amount of fossil fuel production needed to maintain the 1.5-degree Celsius target from the Paris Agreement. The situation requires balanced consideration of economic transitions and sustainable development, particularly regarding air conditioning needs in affected regions.
TheGovernments economicworldwide are currently planning to extract and policyproduce challengestwice ofthe rapidlyamount reducingof greenhousefossil gasfuels emissionsneeded acrossto allmaintain sectorsthe require1.5-degree balancedCelsius considerationtarget, aswhile currentEl emissionNiño's reductionpeak targetsinfluence havehasn't not yet resultedarrived. inThe actualcombination decreases,of highlightingcontinued thefossil complexityfuel ofproduction implementingand effectivenatural climate policiespatterns suggests even higher temperatures ahead, regardless of immediate action.
The economic and policy challenges of rapidly reducing greenhouse gas emissions across all sectors require balanced consideration, as current emission reduction targets have not yet resulted in actual decreases, highlighting the complexity of implementing effective climate policies.